A BeppoSAX observation of the Broad Line Radio–Galaxy 3C 390.3 is reported .
For the first time , both the K _ { \alpha } iron line and a strong reflection hump , produced by the illumination of the primary X–ray emission on cold matter , are detected in this source .
The 0.1–100 keV continuum is modeled by an absorbed hard power law ( \Gamma \sim 1.8 ) reflected at high energies by material with a fairly large covering factor ( \Omega / 2 \pi \simeq 1 ) .
The iron line is centered at \simeq 6.4 keV ( rest frame ) , is intrinsically narrow ( \sigma = 73 ^ { +207 } _ { -73 } eV ) , and has an equivalent width of \simeq 140 eV .

We discuss the results in the context of current models for AGNs and suggest that the primary X–ray power law continuum is probably produced by a hot inner flow , while the reprocessed radiation comes from an outer cold thin disk , and/or from a thick torus at even larger radii .
Further observations with BeppoSAX could distinguish between the latter two cases .
Beamed radiation associated to the radio jet is unlikely to contribute significantly to the X–ray emission .

Finally , an historical study of the column density N { { } _ { H } } , also reported here , shows that the absorption along the line of sight changes in time .
The N { { } _ { H } } time variability , which is not correlated with that of the primary continuum , seems to imply variations of the geometry of the absorber rather than variations in the ionization state of the gas .